Bees ace Soucy to stay in Canada

JP SOUCY, Bracknell Bees' highly-rated defenceman, will not be returning for a second year.

The 26-year-old French-Canadian is joining Le Garaga de Saint-Georges, a semi-professional club who play in the local Quebec League.

Bees boss Mike Ellis had been hoping to bring Soucy back to the Hive after signing him from ECHL club Wheeling Nailers last summer.

Soucy was well thought of among his team-mates and supporters alike.

As well as receiving the players' player of the year award, he was voted the club's best defensive player by the fans.

He scored three goals and contributed 14 assists in 36 British National League games last season.

But he will be best remembered for his steadying influence in a season of upheaval caused by injuries to fellow Canadian defenceman Daryl Lavoie and the sudden departure of Curtis Sheptak, another import blue-liner.

Soucy was often called upon to ice for longer than he would normally have done as Bees eventually overcame their injuries to reach the BNL Championship play-off final.

Bees, who have already lost last season's captain David Matsos to Elite League club Cardiff Devils, have so far made two new import signings, Slovakian forward Matus Petricko and ex-Basingstoke Bison star Peter Campbell.